A CAREER OF CRIME.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 37, 12 February 1881, Page 4

A CAREER OF CRIME.

(Pall Mall Gazette.) By the execution of "William Joseph. Distin in Bristol the State may be said to have abandoned in despair all attempts to reclaim an irreclaimable criminal. The Bristol murderer was olie of that numerous class, <l the failures of society." Fourteen years ago he made his first appearance before the magistrates on a charge of violently assaulting his own father, and the three months' hard labor to which he was sentenced appears to have kept him in order for three years. In 1869 he was fined for being drunk and incapable. Iv tho next year he attempted to commit suicide, but failed. After another three years' absence his appearance at the Police Court began to be more frequent, In 1872 he was twice " drunk and disorderly ;" in 1873 ho was four times |up for assaulting the police when drunk, and on two of these occasions he was also charged with assaulting his mothjer. In 1874 he was sentenced to hard labour for assaulting his sister Emily ; and 'in 1876 to a similar term of punishment for assaulting his sister Rosa. In 1877' he took to stealing, but this apparently was his only theft. For nearly eighteen months after his release he kept out of the hands of the pol'ce, but in December, 1879, he broke loose again. After twice being drunk and disorderly he stabbed his paramour in tho face sin June, and ' was sentenced to three month's hard labour. Almost immediately after his release he went back jto his mistress and murdered her. After having been sent to gaol thirteen timbs, without being improved by the process, he has at last been . hanged. . He will trouble the police no more,- but the confession of failure involved in resorting to such a" resource is none the less hujn--iliating- on that account. j